S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2492, 20 April 1893, Page 4

S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Sou Hi Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard Aid Board was hold on Tuesday. Vreseut Messrs Jackson (chairman), Talbot., Barker, Gillingham, and Graham The chairman made his usual statement, including a resume of the year's work at the hospital. During tho year 1485 visits had been made by the medical stall". 2350 prescriptions were ordered, an average of B?per patient. 437 prosciiptions\vore dispensed for 160 out-patients. The 2787 prescriptions were dispensed to 420 persons. 39 patients paid all or part of their maintenance, 22 of whom are married or are young people whose paren ts paid for them. 238 paid nothing. Only 7s was collected from out-patients, by charging Is for each prescription. There had been no complaints during tho yeai\ Six patients had exceeded tho limit _of residence provided for in By-law 08. Their respective day's stay had been 488, 280, 140, J 24, 7»», 74. It was advisable to take into consideration that day, or at an early date, tho question of the barracks and tho provisions of au old folks' home. Tho secretary and the chairman were now often placed in very unenviable positions. During the month there had been two cases, a man and a woman, both over 80. They were not subjects for the barracks, nor for the hoa|iitah lie asked the secretary to get a cab and take the old man to tho barracks. A lady who happened to be in tho house said to the sectetary. "No you wont." Siie declined to allow the man to be taken to the barracks, and she took him to her own homo. It remained to be considered whether that was a reflection upon the board's management of the barracks. The other case was an old lady of 84, who was brought to his oflice, and he was told to do as he liked with her. He was thus placed in a very awkward position he sent her to the hospital. It was very unpleasant to have such practical reflections cast upon them ; in effect that the barracks were not tit for old people, and that rather than allow them to go there people would take them into their own homes.

Letters were received from Auckland Wellington and Dunedin hospitals in reply to au inquiry as to the practice i'i ceses where the parent or guardian of a child refused to consent to a major operation which the medical staff", after consultation, decided to be necessary. All three replies were that in such a c»se the patient would be discharged. No reply had been received from Christchurch. After a little discussion Mr Graham said he would give notice of a rule to adopt this practice here. Members agreed in the opinion that if the parents or guardians take the responsibility they should take the patients. The seretary stated that £24 had been collected from hospital patients during the month.

It was resolved on the motion of Messrs Graham and Barker that alternative tenders bo invited for the erection of a brick or concrete fence on the Queen street frontage. Also that tenders be called for the erection of a shelter shed for the medical staff's vehicles, the cost not to exceed £4O.

The steward, Mr Jowsey, reported that a man in a good position got an order to admit his daughter to tho hospital. She came, underwent the operation, and left again" the next day. According to the scale of charges he could only chacge for one day, 4s Od, and that amount was paid. The medical staff felt themselves ax'tmeved at being called upon to perforin operations jn the hospital, for nothing, for people well oil' in life. —Tho chairman said this was not the first, second, or third time the hospital had been taken advantage of in that way, and publicity should be given to such cases. A man should be ashamed to do a thing of that sort, or be shamed by having his name published. He said this not knowing who was the person referred to.—Mr Talbot said it was very reprehensible; Mr Gillingham that it was « : working a swindle " ; and Mr Barker said that was the proper word. —Mr Gillingham sugthat the doctors should refuse to perform operations for such people, but Mr Jowsey said they could not refuse to admit and treat anyone.—Mr Talbot said that they could do nothing but trust to the propel' feeling of people.—ln reply to the chairman moat of the members declined to ask for the person's name for publication. —The chairman said he would net have given the order himself, and tho secretary, who gave the order, was advised to refer such applicants to the chairman in future.

Mr Gijlingham, reforriug to a return of patients' payment, remarked that he recognised among the names of patients from his district names of at leas;fc some who could pay if they were pressed. He iii't/ad that the local bodies be requested toliend in confidential reports on this point, on the returns sent them monthly. Hospital accounts amounting to £IOB 18s Gd were passed for payment. A quantity of correspondence on charitable aid cases was read. The secretary read a full report on a round of inspection he had made to the recipients of rations and boarded-out children in the country.—Mr Graham spoke of the utility of the secretary's vi.iU; they must do a great deal of good. •yiiQ report contained a number of recommendations, some fur increase in aid given in particular cases, some for reductions, find a few for stern dealing u m mothers whoso mode of life is -lYcri-uo'' 1 to ?noH tho children. It was agreed that Uie report should be com-pk»t--cl I)"- the additiaa of similar remarks on the oasea in mid near Timarn, and consideration of the whole was deferred ti , .l' J inJxL meeting. A few special eases were talked of for a time, but no decision was come to.

The chairman urged forward the barracks question, but, other members preferred to discus it at a fuller meeting, .uid it was iinally decided that the members should meet there next month ;im! inspect the premises before going up to the hospital. The chairman asked Mr Graham whether YVaimato would not give wp its h>spk;d to be converted b'io au old folks' homo, and Mr Graham understook to mention it to tisu board. — Air Gillingham said ho had heaid a great m-.utv ru.noui'.J about Via wore run down on all sides, so he had been there to see what they were like for himself. There was no ground whatever fur the talk tiiere was about them. They were clean ;md well ventilated, and a great deal more comfortable than the ordinary nm of men's huts oh the farms and stations.—Mr Graham thought it would be cheaper to board out the few old people that there are as yet, than to keeo them in a homo, as there would be u to keep as well as the old folks. The chairman said that could be done to ;i certain point; when an old man became helpless no one would keep him. On Mr Gilliugham's suggestion it was decided that steps should be taken to obtain a title to the old hospital reserve, the local members to bo asked for their assistance in this matter.

Charitable aid accounts amounting to £139 8s 4d were passed for payment and the board rose.